Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

In this study, the effects of certain chromatographic conditions on various modified and unmodified oligonucleotides were investigated. At the forefront of this study was the investigation of a new Ion-pair Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (IP-RPLC) method, that had the potential to replace a previously established triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) IP-RPLC method developed for oligonucleotide separations. This method, utilising the counter ion dibutyl amine (DBA) and a Tris-buffer at pH 8, produced promising results indicating that the strong binding strength of DBA creates a hybrid IEX/RPLC separation method – the separation of oligonucleotides is dynamically based on both charge and length. Higher concentrations of DBA appear to produce better results that include improved efficiency, increased retention and even the potential discovery of hidden impurities. In conjugation with Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems, sub-2 µm particle columns and gradient optimisations, separations of complex oligonucleotides could be achieved in short analysis times. Furthermore, effective separations at the analytical level can be applied and adapted to larger scale Prep-LC, potentially also improving the purification process of crude oligonucleotide samples. Further development and validation are, however, required for any future work with this method. / I denna studie har effekten av vissa kromatografiska förhållanden på olika modifierade och icke-modifierade oligonukleotider undersökts. I framkanten av denna studie var undersökningen av en ny IP-RPLC metod, vilken har potential att ersätta den tidigare etablerade trietylammonium acetat (TEAA) IP-RPLC metoden, vilken utvecklats för separationen av oligonukleotider. Denna metod, vilken använder dibutylamin (DBA) som motjon och en Tris-buffert vid pH 8, gav lovande resultat vilka indikerar att den starka bindningsstyrkan av DBA skapar en hybrid IEX/RPLC separationsmetod – separationen av oligonkuleotider styrs både av dess laddning och dess längd. Höga koncentrationer av DBA verkade ge bättre resultat som inkluderar hög effektivitet, ökad retention och även den potentiella upptäckten av gömda föroreningar. I samband med UHPLC systemer, kolonner med mindre än 2µm i partikelstorlek och optimiserade gradienter, separationer av komplexa oligonukleotider erhölls på korta analystider. Effektiva separationer vid den analytiska nivån kan appliceras och adapteras till storskalig preparative-LC, med potential att kunna förbättra reningsprocessen för syntetiserade oligonukleotider. Vidare utveckling och validering krävs för framtida användning av denna metod.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : universitet, 2007. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Synthetic oligonucleotides, which are short strings of DNA or RNA, are a grooving area of importance for the pharmaceutical industry and for companies that manufacture diagnostic components. The manufacturing process of synthetic oligonucleotides involves many complex processes that use separation and purification techniques like ion-exchange chromatography, ion-pair reversed phase chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography. In this study, the focus lies on the purification process, where the main aim is to develop a separation and purification method for modified oligonucleotides that can be applied on different scales, from an analytical to a preparative scale. Three modified oligonucleotides, and one unmodified with 44 bases, provided by Scandinavian Gene Synthesis (Västerås, Sweden), were analysed and purified on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography and on a preparative-system. Several parameters were investigated, e.g. mobile phase composition, gradients and concentration. Practical analysis and purification were made in two scales; analytical and semi-preparative.  The results showed that the samples contained impurities that were hard to separate from the main sample. The scaling-up tests showed that, with increasing concentration, the impurities become more aggregated with the main product. Fraction analysis showed that several pure fractions were collected from the semi-preparative purification, and therefore some amount of pure sample were collected from the semi-preparative run. In conclusion, the method developed in this master thesis worked well as a significant amount of samples were purified in the semi-preparative purification, and the method worked on modified and unmodified oligonucleotides, containing different amount of modifications. / Syntetiska oligonukleotider, vilket är korta strängar av DNA eller RNA, är ett framväxande område i läkemedelsindustrin och för företag som tillverkar diagnostiska komponenter. Tillverkningsprocessen för syntetiska oligonukleotider involverar många komplexa processer som använder separation- och reningstekniker som jonbyteskromatografi, jonparskromatografi och ultra-performance kromatografi. I denna studie ligger fokus på reningsprocessen där det huvudsakliga syftet är att utveckla en separation- och renings metod för modifierade oligonukleotider som kan appliceras på olika skalor – från analytisk till preparativ skala.  Tre modifierade oligonukleotider, samt en omodifierad med 44 baser, tillhandahållet av Scandinavian Gene Synthesis (Västerås, Sverige), analyserades och renades på ett ultra-performance kromatografi system och ett preparativt reningssystem. Flertal parametrar undersöktes, bland annat mobilfasens komposition, gradienter och koncentration. Analys och rening utfördes i två skalor; analytisk och semi-preparativ skala.  Resultatet visade att proverna innehöll föroreningar som var svåra att separera från huvudkomponenten. Uppskalningstesterna visade att föroreningarna blandade sig mer med huvudkomponenten då koncentrationen ökade. Fraktionsanalyser visade att flera rena fraktioner blev ihopsamlade från den semi-preparativa reningen, som därav visade att en betydelsefull mängd rent prov blev renat i den semi-preparativa reningen. Sammanfattningsvis, den metod som utvecklats i denna uppsats fungerade bra då betydelsefulla mängder oligonukleotider kunde renas till olika grad vid den semi-preparativa reningen, samt att metoden fungerade för både modifierade och icke-modifierade oligonukleotider som innehöll olika mängder modifikationer.

Huvudmålet i projektet var att analysera det vanligt förekommande additivet glycerolmonostearat, GMS, i plastprover. Projektet är en del av ett samarbete mellan KTH och det norska företaget Norner. Projektgruppen har jobbat för att utvärdera och optimera företagets nuvarande analysmetod samt att identifiera glycerolmonostearat i polypropylen. Olika lösningsmedel och derivatiseringsreagens testades, såväl som olika temperaturprofiler, för gaskromatografen jämfördes under projektet. Resultaten visade att glycerolmonostearat kunde derivatiseras genom silylering. Alla prover har sammanfattats i en slutgiltig metod som är lämpad för analys av polyolefiner som innehåller glycerolmonostearat. Slutmetoden saknade möjligheten för kvantitativ analys och kan därför förbättras i framtiden. / The main task was to analyze the very common additive, glycerol monostearate, GMS in plastic samples. The project was a collaboration between KTH students and the Norwegian company Norner. The goal was to evaluate and optimize the company's current method of analysis and identification of the content of GMS in polyolefins. Different solvents, derivatization agents and methods for gas chromatography were compared to find an effective process by which additives in polypropylene samples can be analyzed. The results showed that glycerol monostearate can be derivatized through a process called silylation. All different attempts have been summarized into one final method that was most suitable for the analysis of polyolefins containing glycerol monostearate. The final method was reproducible but lacked a properly determined quantification analysis. The final method can be improved further after this project. To give a few examples there are a lot more potential derivatization agents and solvents that can be substituted which requires further research.

Sällsynta jordartsmetaller är en kritisk råvara som står inför viktiga utmaningar gällande utbud och efterfrågan. För att överkomma dessa utmaningar behövs det effektiva separationsmetoder. Den här rapporten studerar separationen av sällsynta jordartsmetaller med extraktionskromatografi. Tre olika extrakt-modifierade HPLC kolonner användes för att separera en samling av åtta sällsynta jordartsmetaller; lantan, cerium, praseodym, neodym, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium och yttrium. Den första kolonnen innehöll ren HDEHP som extraktant, den andra ren HEHEHP som extraktant. Den tredje kolonnen innehöll en blandning av de två extrakanterna. Blandningen bestod av 15–30% HDEHP. Eluering genomfördes med salpetersyra i olika koncentrationer och applicering. Forskningsfrågan som rapporten bygger på gäller hurvida blandningen av extraktanterna kan förbättra separationen gentemot att endast använda de rena extraktanterna. Jämförelsen kolonnerna emellan baserades huvudsakligen på två parameterar, salpetersyraförbrukning och upplösning av toppar.  Resultaten visar att kolonnen med endast HEHEHP hade minst salpetersyraförbrukning men gav sämst upplösning. Kolonnen med endast HDEDP hade högst salpetersyraförbrukning men gav bäst upplösning, speciellt för de fyra tyngsta ämnena; samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium och yttrium. Kolonnen med extraktantblandningen gav god upplösning för alla ämnen, speciellt för de fyra lättaste ämnena; lantan, cerium, praseodym och neodym. Eftersom denna kolonn dessutom hade relativt låg salpetersyraförbrukning är den preliminära slutsatsen att denna presterade bäst generellt. Slutsatsen är därmed att extraktantblandningen kan förbättra separationen. / Rare earth elements are a crucial resource facing challenges concerning supply and demand. To meet these challenges, efficient separation methods are needed. This report investigates the separation of rare earth elements using extraction chromatography. Three different extractant modified HPLC columns was used to separate a collection of eight rare earth elements: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, and yttrium. One column contained pure HDEHP as extractant, another pure HEHEHP as extractant. The third column contained mixture of the two extractants. The mixture contained 15-30% HDEHP. Elution was achieved using nitric acid as eluent in different concentrations and modes of elution. The research question guiding the work was to investigate if using a mixture of extractants could improve the separation as opposed to using only the pure extractants. The comparison was made based on two main performance parameters, nitric acid consumption and peak resolution.  The results show that the column with pure HEHEHP had the lowest nitric acid consumption but yielded the worst resolution. The column with pure HDEHP had the highest nitric acid consumption but the best resolution, particularly for the four heaviest analytes, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, and yttrium. The column with the extractant mixture yielded good resolution for all analytes and especially for the four lightest analytes: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. Since this column also had relatively low nitric acid consumption the tentative conclusion is that it performed the best overall. The conclusion is therefor that the extractant mixture can improve the separation.

Till den här undersökningen har en kromatografilaboration konstruerats. Högstadieelevers attityd gentemot kemi före och efter genomförandet av kromatografilaborationen jämförs. Genomförandet skedde vid Vetenskapens Hus i Stockholm. Även medföljande lärares upplevelse av laborationen och eventuell påverkan på elever undersöks. Frågeformulär används för undersökande av elevernas attityder gentemot kemi och intervjuer med medföljande lärare används som komplement till elevernas svar. För en grupp av de deltagande eleverna syns en förändring i attityd gentemot kemi i positiv riktning, vilket stämmer överens med elevgruppens lärares upplevelse. För den andra gruppen deltagande elever syns ingen förändring i attityd gentemot kemi, vilket stämmer överens med elevgruppens lärares upplevelse. Laborationen anses lämplig av de medföljande lärarna, oavsett om den har en affektiv påverkan på eleverna eller inte. Utifrån elevernas svar på frågeformulären och lärarintervjuerna går det att fastställa laborationens möjlighet att påverka elever affektivt, men även att denna påverkan inte är självklar. / In this report, a chromatography lab is constructed and the attitudes towards chemistry of students in lower secondary school are compared before and after the lab is carried out at Vetenskapens Hus in Stockholm. The attendant teachers’ experiences of the lab and potential effects on the students are also taken into consideration. Questionnaires are used to survey the students’ attitudes towards chemistry, and interviews with the attendant teachers are used as a complement to the students’ answers. For one group of students, a significant positive change in their attitudes towards chemistry is measured, which is consistent with their teacher’s experience. For the other group of students, there is no significant change in their attitudes towards chemistry, which is consistent with their teacher’s experience as well. The lab itself is seen as appropriate by the attendant teachers, regardless of whether it influences the students affectively or not. Based on the answers of the students and the interviews with the teachers, it is possible to conclude that the lab has the potential to influence the students affectively, but also that this influence isn’t a necessary effect of the lab.

Virtually all extracellular proteins in humans are glycoproteins and likewise are many biopharmaceuticals. The glycosylation is directly correlated to biological function and stability of these proteins. The ability to isolate glycoproteins is thus of great importance in many applications. The most common isolation method for glycoproteins is affinity chromatography using lectins, a ubiquitous and versatile group of carbohydrate-binding proteins. The lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) has long been used for this purpose but suffers from undesired leakage into the eluate, causing an inquiry of alternative chromatography ligands or optimization of the ConA resin.In this study, a total of 20 different lectins, including ConA, were evaluated and compared in terms of suitability as ligands in affinity chromatography for glycoprotein isolation. The lectins’ binding to glycoproteins were studied, mainly through microtiter plate binding assays using a monoclonal IgG1 antibody and Conalbumin (Ovotransferrin). Further, sugar-specificities and potential eluting sugars for the lectins were examined through inhibition with eight different carbohydrates. Additionally, the glycoprotein binding and leakage of ConA columns were examined, and a potential leakagereducing treatment of ConA resin evaluated.ConA was found to be superior in binding to the investigated glycoproteins but exhibited a limited binding when immobilized to an agarose resin. This discrepancy is likely a consequence of structurally hidden glycans on the used glycoproteins and requirements of long residence time when used in a chromatographic setting. Binding competition with several sugars were investigated with a similar microtiter plate binding assay. This method displayed potential to predict the behaviour of sugars and their suitability as eluting agents in a chromatography column. The best eluting sugar for ConA was showed to be methylmannoside, ideally in combination with methylglucoside. Lastly, evaluation of ConA columns with a crosslinking glutaraldehyde-treatment showed that the ConA ligand leakage may be significantly reduced, although further studies and optimizations are needed.This study thus presents a repertoire of lectins and their differences in terms of glycoprotein-binding and sugar-specificity, as well as evaluations of ConA columns’ efficiency and potential leakage-prevention.

Standard purification processes in large scale antibody production are largely dependent on Protein A chromatography. Protein A binds specifically to many subclasses of IgG with high affinity. However, in order to elute the proteins, the pH needs to be lowered. Since lowering of the pH can be detrimental to some antibodies, a milder purification process is of great interest. A variant of Protein A, called ZCa, has previously been engineered to bind to IgG in a calcium-dependent manner. The antibody binds to ZCa when calcium is present and releases when calcium is removed. For the IgG1 subclass, the elution still requires a slight lowering of the pH, which is why there is room for improvement of the molecule. A phage display selection has been performed with the aim to obtain calcium-dependent IgG1 binders that are able to release the antibodies upon calcium depletion at neutral pH. In addition, an attempt on increasing the alkaline stability of the binders was made. Sequence analysis of the selection output showed almost no indications of increased alkaline stability. Instead, M13K07 helper phages were exposed to new selections for increased alkaline tolerance which might be useful in future phage display selections. Even though the binders selected for in this project did show some promising characteristics, none of them were able to elute upon calcium depletion at neutral pH as aimed for. However, one of the variants did show promising results during most of the performed characterizations. Most interestingly, the elution properties of this variant could indicate a higher calcium-dependence in the interaction with the target than that of ZCa, although further characterizations need to be performed in order to draw any conclusions about possible improvements of this protein domain.